Legend Press

Office burgled - bad start to the day...

Coming in this morning looking forward to getting through the mountain of work ahead, and some bad news... we've been burgled. Office, on a main road in Central London, has been ransacked. At least most PCs still here, but main things that have gone are my laptop and bike (second and third respectively - not had much luck).

Currently working on what can be salvaged but if you have emailed me or asked anything over last few days, can you please resend as will be a great help!

A nightmare, but they say these are the things you look back on (once sorted...)

Tom

Headline News!

Legend Press have made headlines in the Bookseller today with our exciting new Independent Publishers initiative to encourage independent bookshops to work closer with independent publishers.

The new initiative will combine the supreme talent of authors published by independent publishers, whose work can sometimes go unnoticed, with independent bookshops who provide a unique buying environment. To do this, we will elect a panel to choose 'Independent picks of the month'. The panel will be made up of a specific selection of professional individuals within publishing - authors, publishers, retailers, etc. This project will develop a firm relationship between the two establishments and together reach a broader audience. The scheme will, in turn, compete with the larger chains and offer an alternative option to the mainstream book charts. To promote the project the scheme will offer discounts, material and events, such as book signings and readings, to the shops.

To find out more information about the project please contact Lauren at laurenparsons@legend-paperbooks.co.uk.

Lucy

Looking forward to Who Goes There!

The Scholar's blog have been singing praises about Nick Griffiths first Doctor Who Book Dalek I Loved You and like us are really looking forward to the sequel WHO GOES THERE!

"I found this book laugh out loud funny, in places, which will doubtless please Nick Griffiths, who likes the idea of making people laugh. I found it warm, witty and wry. Sometimes it was even genuinely moving: he talks of interviewing Jon Pertwee for the Radio Times 16-page Doctor Who supplement in honour of the TV Movie only a short while before Pertwee's death at the age of 76 had me choking back tears (the Third Doctor was Griffiths' first Doctor), even though it's described in a very understated (ie typically British) way...Clearly the book's proved popular, because there's a sequel coming out in late October: Who Goes There"

Lucy

YouWriteOn to Publish 5,000 Writers for Free

Arts Council funded YouWriteOn.com (YWO), a UK site with leading publishers involved to find and develop new literary talent, is offering to publish the first 5,000 writers who contact them for free. Utilising advances in technology, YWO has launched the offer to make the dreams of thousands of writers a reality and to help revolutionise the publishing market.

YWO was funded in 2006 by the Arts Council as the first literary site of its kind to discover new writing talent through feedback from writers and readers from the general public. It now works with publishers such as Random House and Legend Press, and each month the site’s highest rated writers receive free feedback from publishers, as well as YWO adding a number of other services.

Boasting over 10,000 members, the site’s recent successes include a six-figure Random House deal for writer Douglas Jackson with his novel Caligula, a two book Penguin deal for a novel called Bufflehead Sisters as a result of online paperback sales alone, and a three book deal for another writer with Costa Award winning publisher Quercus.

Edward Smith, the YouWriteOn Manager comments “Publishing is changing, YouWriteOn.com was the first literary site of its kind, and publishers like Random House and Legend Press quickly saw the potential of writers and readers themselves finding and developing new talent. YouWriteOn has seen writers achieve success through traditional and non-traditional means. We now intend to break the traditional mould of publishing itself. The first 5,000 people who email us at youwriteon@legendpress.co.uk will be able to have their paperback published for free by Christmas and we plan to discover more bestselling writers.”

Lucy

Read the first chapter of On the Holloway Road exclusively here!

We've already reported that On the Holloway Road by Andrew Blackman, winner of the Luke Bitmead Bursary Award, was since also shortlisted for the Dundee International Book Prize. Well, we're very excited about publishing this fantastic novel in February and can't very well keep it to ourselves.

So, here is exclusively the first chapter, even pre-edit, of On the Holloway Road. Enjoy, have your appetite whetted, and you'll be seeing a great more of this superb novel.

And you can beat the launch rush and pre-order right your copy right here:

Order your copy now - £7.99 

New author website

Just thought I would bring to your attention Sarah's new website www.sarahladipomanyika.com. Sarah's debut novel 'In Dependence' is out on 27th September. She will be visiting the UK for 2 weeks to promote the novel, with book-signings and readings planned for Oxford, London and Birmingham. The official launch party for the novel will be held in Central London on 30th September.

This fantastic novel is now available to pre-order for a mere £5.99...

Pre-order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Who Goes There takes on Wales

Nick Griffiths' Dr Who inspired adventure Who Goes There was featured in the Wales on Sunday last week. Click here to read! The book is out on 25th October and is already attracting alot of attention from the press.

Nick talks about the locations he visited in Wales whilst writing and researchinf his book - "in Wales you can throw a rock and hit four Doctor Who filming locations".

Nick is a life-long Doctor Who fan - "My favourite memories of Doctor Who always take me back to my childhood, sitting on the sofa with my mum and dad.” The book also covers locations from the new series including the beach where Billie Piper parted from Dr Who in the last series.

Pre-order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Back from Brussels...

Like a child coming back from holiday and writing a report on their travels... I have just returned from a week in Brussels, well 4 days. Had a great relaxing eating chocolate, waffles, mussels, cheese and more chocolate (it's making me hungry now thinking about it!)

Here is a picture of the Grand Place where I did most of my eating!

I have come back to a very busy office with lots of new books, and am looking forward to arranging more publicity for them. Why not pre-order your copies of our new books now! The brilliant In Dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika is out on 27th September and the fantastic Paperbooks new title Fat Tuesday by Gary Davison is also out on the same date!

Lucy

Come to the LitCamp event tomorrow

Will be speaking tomorrow at the LitCamp event at London Met Uni as part of a panel discussing publishing from the editor's point-of-view. Other speakers (pic is from how my section will no doubt turn out) include: Rosalind Porter, senior editor with Granta magazine, Laura Barber of Portobello Books and agent Hannah Westland of Rogers Coleridge & White.

Starting at 10.15am, there are also a series of other events and should be a fantastic day - pleased to be asked to contribute. Although at this rate I will be working through the night to get our final books of the year to the printers, so what I'll come up with when speaking is anyone's guess!

Tom

(Almost) unveiling for 2009... 'Project X' by William Coles

Another title that we're launching in 2009 and one we're really excited by publishing, which involves more new ground for us. Can't quite reveal the actual topic yet, for reasons that may become obvious, but William Coles, author of the fantastic The Well-Tempered Clavier, will be writing the story of one of the most famous, maybe should say infamous, characters of British history over the last century.

'In his words', will be a reveal-all account and should certainly cause a stir - will reveal further details shortly. Any guesses who it could be? Will think of some type of spot prize for anyone who happens to get it right - maybe a signed copy of The Well-Tempered Clavier.

And to get an idea of the writing style you will be seeing a lot more of, you can order a copy of the Clavier right here at a special discount:

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Tom

Unveiling for 2009... The History of Us

There is still so much to do for 2008, far too much in fact but we'll get it done... somehow. But 2009 will be here before we know it and we need even more great titles to build on those already published/to be published. And behind the scenes we've been working away, and so over next few days will reveal a couple of new books coming up towards the start of next year.

The History of Us by Philip Leslie

The History of Us is a beautiful exploration of love and obsession, based on the stories of a group of friends growing up in Norfolk and told in reflection focused on the incredibly close but conversely fractious relationship of the two central characters.

Told in three parts, The History of Us, explores the relationships between the two and a close friend, bonded by love, but also by a single tragic moment in their shared lives. As the book unfolds, we hear many whispers, which shift our understanding of that tragic day, and ultimately, of course, our perceptions of the characters, and theirs of each other.

Philip is also the author of the prize-winning Brought to You by the Makers of Norriss Toothbrushes, which was also adapted for the stage and performed in both Edinburgh and London. He also works with BBC Radio Drama and is a musician and published composer.

And of course you can pre-order here already (at a special discount):

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Introducing A Son Called Gabriel

This week is to be a madness of getting books to the printers - with three needing to go for Christmas launches. It's exciting to see our list and size growing so quickly, but very hard work!

And one which has been a late acquisition, but we are incredibly excited about is A SON CALLED GABRIEL by Damian McNicholl. Originally published in the US to great acclaim, it was selected as one of the prestigious Book Sense Picks of the Year.

It launches 25th October and to whet your appetite with the blurb: Set in the hills of Northern Ireland in the 1960s and 1970s, A Son Called Gabriel is a deeply felt and often funny coming of age novel that is ultimately unforgettable.

Gabriel Harkin, the eldest of four children in a working-class family, struggles through a loving yet often brutal childhood. It's a turbulent time in Ulster and, in the staunchly Catholic community to which Gabriel belongs, the strict code for belief and behaviour is clear. As Gabriel begins to suspect that he is not like other boys, he tries desperately to lock away his feelings, and his fears. But secrets have a way of being discovered, and Gabriel learns that his might not be the only one in the Harkin family.

The novel was originally to be published in the UK by The Friday Project, but with them sadly going into liquidation, we were at the front of the queue battling to secure this fantastic book. Damian was born and educated in Garbagh, County Derry and now lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Also note the wonderful cover, designed by the great www.snowbooks.com

It's great to have Damian in our authors' ranks and can't wait to launch A Son Called Gabriel. You can pre-order here in the UK at a discount:

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Or from overseas at:

£9.99 - A Son Called Gabriel - Overseas £5.99 - A Son Called Gabriel - UK

Tom

More press for Silence...

Josie Henley-Einion is still clearly capturing the public's interest with her fantastic debut novel, Silence, with yet more press - this time a feature in the Wales on Sunday. Concentrating on the fact Josie and her partner were forced out of their home and subjected to appalling and violent harassment, it provides a backdrop to several of the issues highlighted by Silence.

You can order your copy here of Josie's fantastic novel at a special discount:

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Tom

Remarkable Everyday front page news!

The fantastic Remarkable Everyday was relaunched last month and the most committed of Legend Press following will immediately remember that this book was how it all started out - a short story collection based on an idea when picking up a pint of milk, when Labour were ahead in the polls, I looked young(ish) and Big Brother was still popular.

It's great to relaunch this book but, rather than for nostalgia reasons, because it is such a fantastic collection of stories (if I'm allowed to say so myself) - there really aren't that many ways it could be improved, such is the variety and talent within those eight stories. The subsequent collections in the series have all taken a different angle from the foundation of that very first The Remarkable Everyday.

And it's also great to see it still receiving in press, in fact front page press focussed on one of the contributors, Sarah James.

If you have other Legend Press books, or if even if you haven't got one yet (how could you?), you simply must order this collection (at special offer price):

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Tom

Who Goes There creating a Who storm

It's great to see the fantastic WHO GOES THERE by Nick Griffiths (sequel to Dalek I Loved You) going down a storm all over the shop (pun intended, if poor). We've had offers of distribution from various sites around the world, advance orders have been flying in from the bookshops and it's also brilliant to see support from the Dr Who fan sites and groups.

Of these there are innumerable for the hugely-popular series, but it was great to see a feature from www.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk

We're hugely-excited about launching this book, which is also our first non-fiction title. And you can pre-order at a special discount right here:

Order your copy now - £5.99 

A word from Sarah...

My two-weeks work experience here at Legend Press and Paperbooks is swiftly coming to an end and I must say it has been very enjoyable to be part of such a lively and energetic team! Throughout my time here I have gained a useful insight in the day-to-day running of an independent publishing company, which has been a great experience. The passion about what is published here is clear which creates a fresh and exciting environment to work in.

It has been very busy in the office during my time here, with the forthcoming releases of several new books, including Sarah Lapido Manyika’s, In Dependence and Nick Griffiths’s, Who Goes There, which have so far been generating a lot of interest.

As for me, it is back to University in October but in the meantime I am really looking forward to attending my first ever book launch later this month and will certainly be keeping my eye on the website for more great books in the future!

Sarah

Who Goes There in the Bookseller!

The website for Who Goes There www.whogoesthere.org.uk has made headlines in The Bookseller today, as a new approach to publishing. The companion website developed by Nick provides a companion to his Doctor Who inspired travel book - allowing you to follow in his footsteps (see what I did there?!)

The article also names me as the official Spokesperson of Legend Press, much to Tom's chagrin!

Pre-order your copy of Who Goes There now - £5.99 

Lucy

Who Goes There cover

Here is the eye-catching cover for Nick Griffiths's fantastic new book 'Who Goes There' which is out on 25th October!

'Who Goes There' is a travel book of Doctor Who at it's core. Follow in Nick's footsteps as he takes a journey around England and Wales visiting Doctor Who filming locations new and old, to hilarious ends!

The book can be pre-ordered now...

Pre-order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Silence in the Sunday Mercury

Josie's interview with the Sunday Mercury was published last week, to read click here! The article talks about how Josie's personal experiences have shaped her writing.

If you haven't managed to read a copy yet...

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy